MEATH’S Cian O’Connor and the Irish Sport Horse Kilkenny were in unbeatable form at the Spanish Sunshine Tour last weekend, taking victory in Sunday’s three-star Suzuki Grand Prix at Vejer de la Frontera in Spain.

It was the first outing for 10-year-old gelding Kilkenny (Cardento x Guidam), bred by Sinead Brennan and owned by Susan Magnier, since helping Ireland to victory in the Aga Khan at the Dublin Horse Show in August. From 38 starters, 10 made it through to the jump-off and O’Connor was the best of seven double clears in 39.35 seconds.

Early to go against the clock, 18-year-old Niamh McEvoy had momentarily held the lead with another Irish Sport Horse, Robin Bingham’s Templepatrick Welcome Limmerick (Limmerick x Lux Z), and they eventually finished in fourth place. The pair, who jumped their firse five-star Grand Prix at the Dublin Horse Show in August, were clear in a time of 40.44 to take home just over €5,000.

America’s Laura Kraut took the runner-up place with her Tokyo Olympic mount Baloutine when, last to go, she got closest to O’Connor’s time in 39.93 seconds. In third place was Spanish rider Iván Serrano who stopped the clock in 40.39 with Rain Man.

O’Connor was over the moon with Magnier’s ultra-talented grey gelding. “It was great to win the Grand Prix on the opening weekend of the tour in Vejer,” he commented. “This was Kilkenny’s first outing since he jumped double clear in the Aga Khan and I couldn’t be happier how he jumped, he is a special horse. This is his first show getting ready for winter campaign.

“He is not a horse I go competitively on very often, I keep him for the bigger days. His jump-off round felt smooth and he answered every question that I asked. Kilkenny just has another gear that many even good horses don’t have. It’s hard to explain it but you can feel him thinking underneath you and he just loves to please. Huge thanks to his owner Susan Magnier for the trust and support.”

Sharkey winner

Roscommon’s Cora Sharkey (21) won Sunday’s three-star 1.40m class with the eight-year-old gelding Lisboy Mermus (Mermus R x Cruising), who was bred by Sean Keevans. They were the fastest clear round in 59.16 and were chased home by USA’s Laura Kraut with Opaline Ter Goes, when she stopped the clock in a time of 59.39.

Niamh Mcevoy slotted into third place with Aconzina PS when they put in faultless performance in a time of 60.05.

Sharkey’s victory came off the back of a fifth-place finish in Thursday’s 1.35m while, on the same day, she finish fourth in the seven-year-old class with the Irish-bred AHG Whiterock Duggie (Ard VDL Douglas x Cruising), bred by Anne Gannon Clancy. The pair were faultless in a time of 33.37.

She was joined in the line-up by Niamh McEvoy who finished one place behind with the Max O’ Reilly Hyland-owned and Austin Broderick-bred BP Limitless (Elvis Ter Putte x Laughtons Flight), when they clocked 34.03.

The following day, McEvoy and BP Limitless took the win in the seven-year-old class when they recorded the best of 28 clear rounds in 59.09 seconds, crossing the line almost five seconds faster than her closest rival. This combination went on to take fourth place in Sunday’s final when they delivered another clear round in 65.83.

Consistency

McEvoy’s consistency shone throughout the week and she also picked up a third-place finish in Friday’s 1.45m ranking class with Templepatrick Welcome Limmerick when producing another lovely clear round.

Victory went to Britain’s Matt Sampson aboard the Irish Sport Horse Curraghgraigue OBOS Flight (OBOS Quality 004 x Errigal Flight) who was bred by Baden Powell.

Billy Twomey was in the line-up in the six-year-old class on Sunday, claiming fourth place with Chef of Flanders Fields Z, when he delivered a clear in 72.61.

Sligo’s Kevin Gallager was third in Saturday’s three-star 1.35m with the eight-year-old Mr Castlefield, owned by Ger O’Neill’s Castlefield Breeding. Niamh McEvoy and Lisboy Louie (Luidam x Key of Luck) finished two places behind when they stopped the clock in a time of 36.83.